Contagious Characteristics: CompassionSample

"True compassion means not only feeling another's pain but also being moved to relieve it." – Daniel Coleman

Compassion did not start with the Good Samaritan. Compassion started with God.

Let's go back to the beginning. Due to Adam and Eve's disobedience, sin came into the world and ruined the perfect fellowship that man had with God. (Romans 5:12) Sin caused us to be enemies of God, and because of our sin, we deserved death, which is eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23a). There was nothing that we could do to fix the problem that we created. However, Jesus could, and Jesus did. While we were still God's sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). In other words, while we were still God's enemy, He moved toward us to love us. Instead of leaving us in our sin, Jesus saw our pain and came down to feel our pain so that He could relieve us from it. In the midst of us hating God, Jesus did something that we were not able to do so that we could have a chance at eternal life (Romans 6:23b).

We are capable of showing compassion to others because Jesus has shown compassion towards us, and we are required to show compassion to others because Jesus has shown compassion towards us. We must understand that showing compassion is not optional. Instead, it is necessary because God's compassion towards us is infinite. Jesus is our example!

And because of Jesus' compassion towards us, we, who have accepted what He's done for us, now have a responsibility to respond. Just like Jesus challenged the law expert, we are to look at what Jesus did for us and look at what the Samaritan did for the injured Jew, and "go and do the same" (Luke 10:37).

Let's pray. "Dear God, thank you for not leaving me in my sin, but for meeting me in my sin. Thank you for taking my place on the cross and relieving the pain of being separated from You. Help me to love as you have loved me, and to show compassion as You have shown to me. In Jesus' name, amen."

Reflection Questions:

1. What do Jesus and the good Samaritan have in common?

2. Think about one person, who everyone ignores, or is mean to, and say a prayer for them. Ask God to allow you to show His love towards them.